Tuesday, October 20, 2015

The Fulfillment by Erin Rhew - Review and Giveaway





Author: Erin Rhew
Publication Date:  15 October, 2015
Publisher: Book Fish LLC
Series:  The Fulfillment Series, book 3 (final book)
Genre:  YA Fantasy Romance
Age Recommendation: 16 and up
Rating: 5 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 





Book Description:

Layla’s world tumbles out of control when she discovers the truth of her parentage and realizes the Prophecy—the one she upended her entire life to defend—is incomplete. When her new friends share the entire Prophecy, the revelations contained within it alter her destiny and challenge everything she and Wil believe in. Now, she must confront the Outlander queen to save the Ethereal kingdom while grappling with this new reality.

Tortured and imprisoned, Nash accepts his fate and offers the First Ones the one thing he has left to give: his life. In a desperate attempt to save the people he loves most, he surrenders himself to the Outlander queen and a destiny darker than he could have ever dreamed possible.

Wil, tormented by the consequences of his choices, realizes he may never be able to uphold his end of the Prophecy. His mistake casts a deep, foreboding shadow over his kingdom and those he loves, while its ripples threaten to shatter both the Prophecy and everything he and his family have sworn to protect.

In this epic conclusion, lives are lost, kingdoms clash, friendships are tested, and love and fate collide.



My Review:

This is one of those books that tears you apart piece by piece but still manages to leave you whole and hale by the end.  It is an emotional journey, you are going to gasp, cry (both sad and happy tears), cheer, and wish that it didn't have to end.  I have thoroughly enjoyed going along on this journey with Layla and the gang.

The Fulfillment picks up right where The Prophecy leaves off...we are thrust back into a world that is being torn apart and into the lives of the 'mere' children who are determined to save it.  They are being beaten down on all sides by an evil queen, a false king, and a religious zealot who strayed too far from his path a long time ago.  Their only guide a incomplete prophecy that they can't seem to unravel.  

The worlds that Erin Rhew created are magical and vivid and I would love to see them come to life on the big screen, but it is her characters that stole my heart.  

The strength of conviction in each of her characters had me both beaming in pride and wanting to shout at them just to let go...to let what WILl (ahem) happen be.  Layla, Grant, Samson, Wil, Nash, Vespa, and yes even Mia become an extended part of your family through this series and particularly this book.  Erin's characters are so well developed that you know them on such a deep level that it is impossible not to hurt when they hurt and smile when they are happy.  This is why even though the book leaves you completely satisfied with it's ending I say you don't want it to end.  You don't want to lose your connection to these amazing characters, they have settled themselves on your heart through three books and letting go while 'fulfilling' (seriously no pun intended) is also heartbreaking.  

Even the villains pull you in and while you may truly hate them you can't help but like how well...villainous they are.  Erin pulls no punches, her wicked characters are just as evil as her heroes are heroic, you will despise them as much as you love everyone else and that makes for a perfect balance.  There is very little, maybe they aren't as bad as we think or the desire to see the bad redeem themselves...no, they are evil and evil must be vanquished!

Then because you know, why put these kids through anything more.... there is love.  Love is at the crux of it all.  Who will Layla choose, should the question even have to be asked? What about Mia, how does she affect things (in a huge way, HUGE I tell you!), can Vespa and Grant stay strong together, what about our beloved goof Samson. Can the love of brothers and sisters stay strong or will they be torn apart by the difference that make them who they are?  Decisions come to a head, heartbreak can't be avoided (and I warn you now, your heart will break, be ready), lives will never be the same, but love...love will be found and your broken heart will mend even if it will ache a little ever after.

There aren't many things that can be said about the storyline because discoveries are made on every page.  Every action and reaction build the story to its ultimate (and perfectly executed) conclusion.  I worried because I couldn't see the end.  I couldn't see how Erin would make everything right and while things happen that you wish hadn't it is easy to see as you take a deep breath and turn the last page that this is the way it all had to end.  There was never any other option, some sad has to be blended with the happy.  With your smile tears must come, but peace is there.

I highly recommend this series to any fan of the Fantasy genre and do not let it's YA status keep you from reading.  I don't even know that calling it a YA is the right thing to do, because yes while it can be read by teen (older) readers, it is truly a fantasy series that will please any age from around 16 and up in my opinion.  This in the end is simply a beautiful story about love, friendship, conviction, honesty, survival.  This is a coming of age tale, it was wonderful to watch these characters grow into amazing people and leaders.  These characters shout that by believing in yourself and believing in the people you love you can accomplish anything..all you have to do is try!

  

~ HAPPY READING ~





Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."

A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by-side.





Giveaway:

4 comments:

  1. Wow! I am speechless and rindonk excited! Thank you SO much!!

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    1. <3 You are so welcome. I am happy I could do a little to tell people how amazing this series is!

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  2. I've never heard of this series but it sounds right up my alley!

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    1. Oh, I hope you will give it a try Andye, as you can tell I really loved this series. <3

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